TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled January 9 for the governorship election of Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state.

The electoral body announced this on Thursday after meeting with leaders of political parties which fielded candidates in the December 5 governorship election.

Following the cancellation of the exercise in the local government, the commission said it could not declare a winner in the poll.

Zana Akpagu, the returning officer, said a winner could not emerge because the number of registered voters in Southern Ijaw exceeded the gap between the two leading candidates.

Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), garnered 105,748 votes ahead Timipre Sylva, his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, who had 71,794 votes, leaving a difference of 33,954 between them against the 120,827 registered voters.

Baritor Kpaghir, the resident electoral commissioner of the state, who announced the cancellation, cited violence and irregularities as the reason.

The election of Southern Ijaw was initially rescheduled from December 5 to December 6 as a result of violence.

The results of Brass, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Yenagoa local governments have been announced.